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Lenny Kravitz

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(Redirected from Sy Kravitz)
"Leonard Kravitz" redirects here. For his uncle, the Medal of Honor recipient, see Leonard M. Kravitz.

Lenny Kravitz
Kravitz in 2024
Born
Leonard Albert Kravitz

(1964-05-26) May 26, 1964 (age 60)[1]
New York City, U.S.
Other namesRomeo Blue
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
  • actor
Years active1981–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 1993)​
ChildrenZoë Kravitz
Parent(s)Roxie Roker
Sy Kravitz
Relatives
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • drums
  • keyboards
  • piano
Labels
Websitelennykravitz.com

Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor.

Kravitz released his debut album Let Love Rule in 1989. This marked the beginning of a music career characterized by a blend of rock, funk, reggae, hard rock, soul, and R&B. Kravitz has had hit singles, including "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000), each of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Top 100 chart; other hits include "Let Love Rule" (1989), "Always on the Run" (1991), "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993), "Fly Away" (1998), and "American Woman" (1999), each of which reached the top 10 on the Alternative Airplay chart.

Kravitz has won several awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, which he received four years in a row from 1999 to 2002,[5] breaking the record for most wins in that category, and setting the record for most consecutive wins in one category by a male performer. Kravitz has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and was ranked 93 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".[6]

Aside from his music career, Kravitz has acted in films including Precious (2009) and the first two installments of The Hunger Games film series (2012–13). He also set up Kravitz Design Inc. He was previously married to Lisa Bonet, with whom he has a daughter, Zoë Kravitz.

Early life

[edit]

Kravitz was born on May 26, 1964, in New York City,[7] the only child of NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz (1924–2005) and actress Roxie Roker (1929–1995).[8] His mother came from a Christian family that was of African-American and Bahamian descent.[9][10][11][12] His father was of Russian-Jewish origin.[13][14][15] Through his mother, Kravitz is a second cousin of television weather presenter Al Roker,[16] as their grandfathers were brothers.[17] Kravitz was named after his uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz, a private first class who was killed in action in the Korean War at the age of 20, while single-handedly holding off a Chinese attack, enabling most of his platoon to escape.[18][a]

During his early years, Kravitz did not grow up in a religious environment.[20] After a spiritual experience when he was 13, he started attending church and later became a non-denominational Christian.[20][21] Kravitz grew up spending weekdays on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with his parents, attending P.S. 6 for elementary school, and spending weekends at his grandmother Bessie's house in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.[22]

Kravitz began banging on pots and pans in the kitchen, playing them as drums at the age of three. He decided that he wanted to be a musician at the age of five. He began playing the drums and soon added guitar. He grew up listening to the music his parents listened to: R&B, jazz, classical, opera, gospel, and blues. He said, "My parents were very supportive of the fact that I loved music early on, and they took me to a lot of shows."[23][24] Around the age of seven, he saw the Jackson 5 perform at Madison Square Garden, and they became his favorite performers.[25] His father, who was also a jazz promoter, was friends with Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Short, Miles Davis, and other jazz greats; Ellington even played "Happy Birthday" for him on his fifth birthday.[26][27][28]

In 1974, at the age of 10, Kravitz relocated to Los Angeles with his parents when his mother landed her role on The Jeffersons.[22] At his mother's urging, he joined the California Boys Choir for three years, where he performed a classical repertoire, and sang with the Metropolitan Opera. He took part in Mahler's Third Symphony at the Hollywood Bowl.[22] It was in Los Angeles that Kravitz was introduced to rock music, listening to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Kiss, Pink Floyd, and the Who,[25] and he said he was "attracted to the cool style, the girls, the rock 'n' roll lifestyle."[25] During his junior high school years, he was also introduced to marijuana; he has stated that he was a "pothead" during his youth.[29] His other musical influences at the time included Fela Kuti, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Pharoah Sanders, and Miles Davis.[25] Later influences came in the form of John Lennon and Bob Marley. Kravitz attended Beverly Hills High School, where he was classmates with Maria McKee, Nicolas Cage, and Slash. He taught himself to play piano and bass and made friends with Zoro, who would later become his long-time collaborator.[30] His parents divorced in 1985.[31]

Career

[edit]

1985–1990: Virgin Records and career debut

[edit]

With record labels still telling him his music was not "black enough" or "white enough", Kravitz decided to record an album on his own under the name Romeo Blue.[22] Kravitz had met the recording engineer, keyboardist, and bassist Henry Hirsch in 1985 when recording a demo at his Hoboken, New Jersey, recording studio. The two shared an interest in using real instruments and vintage recording equipment, as well as a love of R&B, jazz, and rock. Kravitz would go on to collaborate with Hirsch on most of his albums. Kravitz began working on his debut album with Hirsch over the next year and a half, with Kravitz's father paying for the studio time. Kravitz met saxophonist Karl Denson and invited him to play on the song "Let Love Rule". Kravitz was so impressed with his playing that Denson played on much of the album. Beginning in the late 1980s, Denson toured with Kravitz for five years.[32]

In October 1988, after completing most of the recording, Kravitz approached friend Stephen Elvis Smith, who had served as the music supervisor on Lisa Bonet's The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. Smith had also worked with Kravitz's mother on the hit sitcom The Jeffersons. Kravitz urged Smith to manage his career and assist him in finding a record deal. In less than a month of shopping the recordings, five labels (Warner Bros, Elektra, Geffen, Capitol, and Virgin) were in a bidding war for Kravitz. Eventually, a deal was made with Virgin Records in January 1989, and signed by Virgin A&R executive Nancy Jeffries. The label was "excited" about the music he was making, music inspired by his relationship with wife Bonet and their new daughter, Zoe. On Smith's urging, Kravitz dropped the name Romeo Blue and reclaimed the Lenny Kravitz moniker. About his time as Romeo Blue, Kravitz said, "Ultimately, it got me back to myself. And when I finally did accept myself for myself, music started flowing out of me."[24]

Kravitz released his debut album Let Love Rule in 1989, a combination of rock and funk with a 1960s vibe. Music critics were mixed: some felt Kravitz was a gifted new artist, others felt he was overpowered by his musical influences. The album was a moderate success in the United States, but became an instant hit outside of the US, especially in Europe. Lisa Bonet directed the debut music video for the title track, "Let Love Rule". Stephen Smith signed Kravitz with talent booking agency CAA, who soon were fielding offers for Kravitz, first on a club tour, and then in opening slots for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie. Having played essentially all of the instruments on the album, Kravitz had to quickly assemble a touring band to support the Let Love Rule release. In May 2009, a 20th-anniversary deluxe edition of Let Love Rule was released worldwide by Virgin. Kravitz launched a LLR(20) tour of Europe and the United States in support of the re-release.[33][34][35]

1991–2001: Popularity established

[edit]
Kravitz and Craig Ross during a concert

In 1990, Kravitz produced the song "Justify My Love" for Madonna, which he co-wrote with Ingrid Chavez.[22] The song appeared on her greatest hits album The Immaculate Collection.

Kravitz separated from Lisa Bonet in 1991,[36] amid rumors of an affair between him and Madonna. Kravitz has denied any infidelity.[36] Kravitz and Bonet divorced in 1993. Kravitz produced the self-titled album Vanessa Paradis (1991) for French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis. He played most of the instruments and co-wrote most of the songs on the album.

In 1991, Kravitz released his second album, Mama Said. The songs on the album were about Bonet and documented his depression over their breakup.[27] The single, "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. A second single "Always on the Run", a tribute to his mother,[27] featured Slash on guitar. "Stand by My Woman" and "What Goes Around Comes Around" followed. Sean Lennon co-wrote and played piano on the song "All I Ever Wanted".[22]

In 1994, Kravitz recorded "Main Squeeze" with Teena Marie from her Passion Play CD. Kravitz also made a video to pay tribute to Teena Marie when she suddenly died on December 26, 2010. He recorded a funk-rock version of the song "Deuce" for the KISS cover album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved. The track featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica and background vocals.[37]

With 5 (1998), Kravitz won the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999.[5] In 1999 he produced and sang with Cree Summer on her solo album Street Faërie.

His cover version of the Guess Who's hit "American Woman" won him another Grammy at the Grammy Awards of 2000[5] and helped the Guess Who's song reach a new audience. Kravitz's version of the song originally came from the soundtrack of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and was added to 5 as a bonus track in 1999. Kravitz worked on two songs for Michael Jackson's Invincible album released in 2001; a snippet of "Another Day" was leaked, and the full version was officially released on the album Michael in 2010.[38]

Kravitz released a Greatest Hits album in 2000. The single "Again" earned him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001.

2006–2009: Live Earth, charity work, and It Is Time for a Love Revolution

[edit]
Kravitz performing in 2012

In January 2006, Kravitz contributed "Breathe" to absoluttracks, a project sponsored by Absolut Vodka. This song was re-mixed by ten musical producers and distributed via the internet. Kravitz appeared in the audience of Madonna's Confessions Tour (2006) during numerous shows. He later joined Madonna live on stage to play guitar on the song, "I Love New York", at the last of four Paris shows. Kravitz founded a design firm named Kravitz Design, stating if he hadn't been a musician he would have been a designer. Kravitz Design, focused on interior and furniture design, has designed residential spaces, as well as a chandelier for the crystal company Swarovski, named "Casino Royale".[39]

On July 7, 2007, Kravitz performed at the Brazilian leg of Live Earth in Rio de Janeiro,[40] making him one of three major international rock stars to perform two huge free concerts at the world-famous Copacabana Beach along with Macy Gray and the Rolling Stones. Kravitz had already played there on March 21, 2005, drawing 300,000 people on a concert of his own. The Live Earth concert, with eight other acts on the bill, including Pharrell and Macy Gray had an audience of 400,000 on the beach. Also in 2007, Kravitz released a version of "Cold Turkey" by John Lennon on the charity CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Kravitz also spent time recording his latest album, It Is Time for a Love Revolution, released February 5, 2008.[41] On September 25, 2007, the Fats Domino tribute album Goin' Home; A Tribute To Fats Domino was released. Kravitz was on the song "Whole Lotta Lovin'" along with Rebirth Brass Band, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, and Maceo Parker.[42]

Kravitz made his feature film acting debut in Precious[43] which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009.[44]

2009–2011: U2 tour and Black and White America

[edit]
Kravitz performing in 2012

In June 2010 it was announced that Kravitz would guest star on an episode of the upcoming season of Entourage.[45]

In 2011 Kravitz was honored with one of the highest cultural awards in France when he was made an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French cultural minister Frederic Mitterrand in Paris. Kravitz stated he was "particularly touched" to receive the award in France as his success in the country pre-dated his success in the United States and still enjoys great record sales in the country today.[46] Kravitz joined other American recipients such as Martin Scorsese, George Clooney, and Bob Dylan. On February 26, 2012, he performed at the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500, the opening race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. A sample of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was used in American singer Chris Willis's single "Too Much In Love", released on August 16, 2011.[47]

2012–present: The Hunger Games films, Super Bowl performance, and further albums

[edit]
Kravitz performing with Katy Perry at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show

Lenny Kravitz played the part of Katniss' creative stylist, Cinna, in the first two Hunger Games films, The Hunger Games released on March 23, 2012[48] and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire released on November 22, 2013.

In 2014 Lenny Kravitz released his tenth studio album Strut on his own Roxie Records via Kobalt Label Services.[49] In 2015, Kravitz performed alongside Katy Perry at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show.

As a designer, Kravitz launched a furniture collection in partnership with CB2 in 2015.[50]

Kravitz performing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

In 2015 he became a furniture designer for the first time ever launching a collection of furniture products marketed under the label CB2 x Kravitz design through retailer CB2.[51] The collection was apparently inspired by the 70s and by the work of Italian designer Gabriella Crespi.[52]

The Raise Vibration world tour[53] (2018) coincided with the release of his 11th studio album.[54][55]

In April 2018, Kravitz signed with BMG Rights Management for a new worldwide publishing music deal to go with his new album Raise Vibration, released in September 2018.[56] BMG had acquired Kravitz's music publishing rights in 2013, as part of Virgin Music Publishing.[57]

Kravitz performing at Untold Festival in 2024

In 2023, Kravitz wrote and performed a song for the film Rustin entitled "Road to Freedom". The song was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.[58] In December 2023, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced shortlists for the 96th Oscars ceremony, and "Road to Freedom" was included in the Best Original Song category.[59] Kravitz won Music Icon of the Year at the 49th People's Choice Awards.[60] In March 2024, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On May 24, 2024, he released his 12th album, Blue Electric Light, which was supported by a world tour with the same name.

Other work

[edit]

Photography and collaboration with Leica

[edit]

Kravitz has partnered with Leica on two occasions. In 2015 a Leica M-P edition titled "The Correspondent", and again in 2019 with a Monochrom edition titled "Drifter."[61][62]

Kravitz Design

[edit]

Kravitz Design Inc. is a New York City–based company founded by Kravitz in 2003.[63] Kravitz Design focuses on commercial, residential and product creative direction and design.[63]

Among its clients are the Morgans Hotel Group, Swarovski Crystal, and The Setai Group.[64] Swarovski selected Kravitz Design Inc. in 2005 and 2006 to participate in their Crystal Palace Collection.[65] Kravitz Design also envisioned a luxury recording studio for The Setai Resort and Residences in Miami Beach, New York, Paris, and New Orleans.[66] In 2010, Kravitz Design collaborated with Flavor Paper wallpaper on the Tropicalismo Collection, a line inspired by Brazil's Tropicalia art movement of the late 1960s.[67]

Personal life

[edit]
Kravitz with his daughter Zoë in March 2010

In 1985, Kravitz met Cosby Show actress Lisa Bonet backstage at a New Edition concert in California.[68] They were close friends for two years before beginning a relationship.[68] In 1987 Kravitz moved back to New York City, where The Cosby Show was produced, to move in with Bonet.[69] They eloped in Las Vegas on November 16, 1987, her 20th birthday.[68] Kravitz, still known as Romeo Blue at the time, suddenly found himself in the headlines of tabloids. He and Bonet had a daughter, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, on December 1, 1988,[70] who became an actress, singer and model. Kravitz and Bonet separated in 1991.[36] They divorced amicably in 1993.[69]

Kravitz dated French singer and model Vanessa Paradis from 1991 to 1996.[71][72] He began dating Brazilian model Adriana Lima in 2001,[73] and they lived together before becoming engaged in 2002.[73] The engagement was called off in August 2003.[73][74][75] Lima was featured in the music video for Kravitz's 2002 single "Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)".[76] He then briefly dated and was engaged to Australian actress Nicole Kidman from 2003 to 2004.[77]

Kravitz identifies himself as a Christian in a religious sense "through choice" but states, "I'm also a Jew. It's all the same to me."[78] During another interview, he stated, "I'm half Jewish, I'm half black, I look in-between."[79] He also notes that spirituality "has been an important issue in [his] growth", citing his upbringing by parents of different faiths.[80] Such spirituality is prominently featured in many of his songs, such as the lyrics on his album Baptism, and a tattoo on his back which is inscribed with "My Heart Belongs to Jesus Christ".[81] In 2011, he stated that his 2005 religious commitment to remain celibate until remarriage was unchanged. In a 2014 interview with Men's Health, however, he reconsidered his previous stance.[82][83][84] In 2024, Kravitz reaffirmed his desire to remain celibate once again, stating to The Guardian that it was his father's infidelity that inspired him to make a change. "After the marriage, [to ex-wife Lisa Bonet] I became more like him. I was becoming a player....I didn’t like it. I didn’t want to be that guy. So I had to tackle that and it took years....by taking responsibility. Discipline. Not letting my own desires take over."[85] Kravitz also stated in the same interview that he had not been in a romantic relationship for 9 years at that point.[85][86]

He currently owns a house in Paris,[87] a farm compound in Brazil,[88] and a trailer with the surrounding land in The Bahamas.[89]

He follows veganism[90] with a primarily raw vegan diet,[89] and uses his land in Brazil and The Bahamas to grow his own food.[89] PETA named Kravitz one of the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2022.[91]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Lenny Kravitz discography

Studio albums

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1998 The Rugrats Movie Newborn Baby (voice) Nominated—Kids Choice Award for Best Cameo Voice in Animated Film
2001 Zoolander Himself Cameo role
2007 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Himself Cameo role
2009 La Traversée du Désir Himself Documentary
2009 Precious Nurse John Supporting role
2012 The Hunger Games Cinna Supporting role
The World Is Watching: Making the Hunger Games Himself Documentary
2013 The Butler James Holloway Supporting role
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Cinna Supporting role
2014 Holy Ghost Himself Guest star
2022 Shotgun Wedding Sean Supporting role
2024 The Trainer TBA Supporting role

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Being Mick Himself Supporting role
Television film
2002 The Simpsons Himself Episode: "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation"
2004 Rebelde Himself Guest star
Episode: "Capítulo 127"
2010 Entourage Himself Guest star
Episode: "Tequila and Coke"
2016 Better Things Mel Trueblood Guest star
Episode: "Brown"
Star Roland Crane 2 episodes

Tours

[edit]
  • Let Love Rule Tour (1990)
  • There Is Only One Truth Tour (1991)
  • Universal Love Tour (1993)
  • Are You Gonna Go My Way Tour (1994) (opening for The Rolling Stones)
  • Circus Tour (1995–96)
  • The Freedom Tour (1998–99)
  • Lenny Tour (2002)
  • The Baptism Tour (2004)
  • Celebration Tour (2005)
  • Electric Church Tour: One Night Only (2005)
  • Get on the Bus Mini-Tour (2008)
  • Love Revolution Tour (2008)
  • LLR 20(09) Tour (2009)
  • Black and White Tour (2011)
  • Strut Tour (2014–15)
  • Raise Vibration Tour (2018–19)
  • Here to Love Tour (2020)
  • Blue Electric Light Tour (2024-25)

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Grammy Awards

[edit]
Year Category Recipient Outcome
1994 Best Rock Song "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Nominated[5]
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance Nominated[5]
1996 "Rock and Roll Is Dead" Nominated[5]
1999 "Fly Away" Won[5]
2000 "American Woman" Won[5]
2001 "Again" Won[5]
Best Rock Song Nominated[5]
2002 Best Male Rock Vocal Performance "Dig In" Won[5]
2004 "If I Could Fall In Love" Nominated[5]

Billboard Music Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1993 "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Top Album Rock Track Nominated
Himself Top Album Rock Tracks Artist Nominated
Top Modern Rock Tracks Artist Nominated
1999 Nominated
Top Hot 100 Artist - Male Nominated
"Fly Away" Top Mainstream Rock Track Nominated
2001 Himself Top Male Artist Nominated
Top Billboard 200 Artist - Male Nominated

Other awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Awards Category Recipient Outcome
1990 MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist in a Video "Let Love Rule" Nominated
1991 Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Club Tour of the Year Let Love Rule Tour Nominated
Denmark GAFFA Awards Best Foreign Solo Act[92] Himself Nominated
1992 ASCAP Pop Music Awards "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" Most Performed Songs[93] Won
"Justify My Love" Won
1993 MTV Video Music Awards Best Male Video "Are You Gonna Go My Way" Won
Best Art Direction Nominated
Denmark GAFFA Awards[92] Best Foreign Album Are You Gonna Go My Way Nominated
Best Concert Universal Love Tour Nominated
Best Foreign Solo Act Himself Nominated
1994 Brit Awards International Male Solo Artist Won
Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Small Hall Tour of the Year Universal Love Tour Nominated
Most Creative Stage Production Nominated
1995 MTV Europe Music Awards Best Male Himself Nominated
1998 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards Most Fashionable Artist, Male Won
Denmark GAFFA Awards Best Foreign Songwriter[92] Nominated
Fryderyk Best Foreign Album 5 Nominated
Kids Choice Awards Best Cameo Voice in Animated Film The Rugrats Movie Nominated
1999 MTV Video Music Awards Best Male Video "Fly Away" Nominated
Best Rock Video Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Rock Himself Nominated
Billboard Music Video Awards FAN.tastic Video "Fly Away" Won
Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Small Hall Tour of the Year The Freedom Tour Nominated
VH1 Fashion Awards Most Fashionable Artist, Male Himself Nominated
Online Music Awards Favorite Male Artist[94] Nominated
2000 MVPA Awards Best Pop Video "American Woman" Nominated
Best Rock Video Nominated
Soundtrack Video of the Year Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Music: Male Artist Himself Nominated
2001 Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Male Video "Again" Nominated
MVPA Awards Rock Video of the Year[95] Nominated
Best Styling in a Video Nominated
Radio Music Awards Artist of the Year/Pop Alternative Radio Himself Won
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Male Artist – Rock Won
My VH1 Awards Favorite Male Artist Won
2002 American Music Awards Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist Won
Microsoft Windows Media Innovation Awards Microsoft Windows Media Innovation Award Won
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Live Act Nominated
Best Male Nominated
2003 Lunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Fashion Icon: Male Nominated
2004 BDSCertified Spin Awards 50,000 Spins "Lady" Won
2005 Lunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Himself Won
2006 ASCAP Pop Awards Most Performed Song "Lady" Won
2008 MVPA Awards Best Editing "I'll Be Waiting" Nominated
"Love Love Love" Nominated
2009 ECHO awards Best International Male Artist Himself Nominated
NRJ Music Awards International Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Best Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Precious Nominated
Black Reel Awards Best Ensemble Won
Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards Best Cast Won
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Nominated
2010 D&AD Awards Music Video "Let Love Rule" (Justice Remix) Wood Pencil
2012 DJ Awards Best Ibiza Live Performance Himself Won
MTV Movie Awards Best Cast The Hunger Games Nominated
2013 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Nominated
Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Acting Ensemble The Butler Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
DJ Awards Best Ibiza Live Performance Himself Won
2014 NRJ Music Awards NRJ Award of Honor Won
2015 UK Music Video Awards Best Live Music Coverage "Just Let Go" Won
2018 Best Rock Video - International "Low" Nominated
Lunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Himself Nominated
2019 GAFFA-Prisen Awards Best International Artist Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Rock Video[96] "Low" Nominated
2024 MTV Video Music Awards Best Rock Video "Human" Won
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Performer Himself [97][98] Pending

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Leonard M. Kravitz was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross but was denied the Medal of Honor.[18] In 2014, he received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony that awarded it to 24 servicemen who had been passed over because of their ethnicity or religion.[19]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ "Famous birthdays for May 26: Bobcat Goldthwait, Lenny Kravitz". UPI. May 26, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  2. ^ Prato, Greg (n.d.). "Lenny Kravitz: Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "Neo-Psychedelia". AllMusic. n.d.
  4. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (May 16, 1990). "Records". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "GRAMMY Award Results for Lenny Kravitz". Grammy.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "VH1 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". YouTube. Archived from the original on May 21, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "Famous birthdays for May 26: Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Nicks". UPI. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  8. ^ Saval, Malina (October 26, 2018). "Lenny Kravitz: 'I Never Wanted to Be a Star; I Wanted to Be a Musician'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  9. ^ Simon, Scott (February 12, 2005). "Lenny Kravitz Takes Spiritual Turn on 'Baptism'". NPR. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  10. ^ Heawood, Sophie (January 25, 2008). "The face". The Times. London. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  11. ^ Marlow Stern (August 29, 2011). "Lenny Kravitz's 'Black & White' Album: Funk, Soul & R&B, With Jay-Z". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  12. ^ Duerden (May 7, 2004). "Lenny Kravitz: Mr Love". The Independentfirst=Nick. Archived from the original on May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Lenny Kravitz Considers the Unforgettable People Who've Helped Color His World". BlackBook. August 29, 2011. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2019. Lenny Kravitz: Later my mother told me, "Look, I'm African-American and your father is a Russian Jew, and you should be proud of both sides, neither more than the other."
  14. ^ "Lenny Kravitz On Race, 'Raise Vibration' And Duetting With Aretha Franklin". NPR. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019. [Lenny] Kravitz: "Well, Brooklyn was just - I had Jewish grandparents - Russian Jews that were in Sheepshead Bay."
  15. ^ Samuels, Allison (January 9, 2002). "CROSSING OVER". Newsweek. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  16. ^ Weisholtz, Drew (October 5, 2020). "Al Roker reunites with distant cousin Lenny Kravitz". Today.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Lenny Kravitz gives Arch Digest a look inside his Brazil home". Today. April 18, 2019. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  18. ^ a b Harrison, Donald H. (April 13, 2001). "Did anti-Semitism block medal for rocker's namesake?". San Diego Jewish Press-Heritage. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  19. ^ "Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz | Valor 24 | Medal of Honor | The United States Army". Army.mil. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  20. ^ a b Heath, Chris (June 16, 2009). "Lenny Kravitz interview". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  21. ^ "Kravitz Sets The Record Straight". Illawarra Mercury. May 24, 2004. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  22. ^ a b c d e f Sandall, Robert (March 5, 1991). "Fancy Seeing You here!". Q Magazine. 55: 50–52.
  23. ^ Hosley, Steve (October 15, 2014). "Spotlight: Lenny Kravitz". Michigan Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  24. ^ a b Henderson. (2002).
  25. ^ a b c d Hodgkinson, Will (July 5, 2002). "Home entertainment: Lenny Kravitz Archived January 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine". The Guardian.
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General sources

[edit]
  • di Martino, Dave. Singer-songwriters: Pop music's performer-composers, from A to Zevon, Billboard Books, 1994.
  • Gregory, Hugh. 1000 Great Guitarists: Rock, Jazz, Country, Funk ..., Balafon Books, 1994.
  • la Blanc, Michael (ed.). Contemporary musicians, Vol. 5, Gale Research, 1991.
  • Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness Publishing, 1992.
  • Whitburn, Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 5th edition, Watson-Guptill Publications, 1992.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lenny Kravitz.
Awards and achievements
Grammy Award
Preceded by Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
1999
for "Fly Away" 		Succeeded by
Lenny Kravitz
for "American Woman"
Preceded by
Lenny Kravitz
for "Fly Away"
 Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
2000
for "American Woman" 		Succeeded by
Lenny Kravitz
for "Again"
Preceded by
Lenny Kravitz
for "American Woman"
 Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
2001
for "Again" 		Succeeded by
Lenny Kravitz
for "Dig In"
Preceded by
Lenny Kravitz
for "Again"
 Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
2002
for "Dig In" 		Succeeded by
MTV Video Music Awards
Preceded by Best Male Video
1993
for "Are You Gonna Go My Way" 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Grey Cup Halftime Show
2007 		Succeeded by
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